I'm Black / Colored Spade

Album: Hair Soundtrack (1967)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Like the rest of the songs in Hair, "I'm Black/Colored Spade" has lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, music by Galt MacDermot. Performed by Berger, Claude, Hud, Woof, and the Tribe, it is a list of epithets and euphemisms for alluding to African-Americans, which like the word used at the time, negro, does not appear on the list. Along with "Sodomy," it is one of the more controversial songs in the production. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 2

  • Doug L Warner from MaineThe term negro IS mentioned. It's the 6th word in the song "I'm a colored spade
    A negro, a black ni--er" The "O" sound is not a hard as in toe. but like the "O" in women
  • Art Davis from United StatesThe original Hair production acknowledges the reality that, in response to the civil rights movement and societal improvements for blacks, racism only mutated to different styles and methods of racism. The racism continued in full force, of which the multitude of dehumanizing words used to describe blacks was just one of the tools mainstream America used to perpetuate racial stereotypes and justify oppression. This song highlights that reality.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?Fact or Fiction

Bradley Cooper, Michael J. Fox, Rami Malek, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and George Clooney: Which actors really sang in their movies?

Linda Perry

Linda PerrySongwriter Interviews

Songwriting Hall of Famer Linda Perry talks about her songs "What's Up" and "Beautiful," her songwriting process, and her move into film music.

Penny Ford of Snap!

Penny Ford of Snap!Songwriter Interviews

The original voice of Snap! this story is filled with angry drag queens, video impersonators and Chaka Khan.

Thomas Dolby

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.